The Albanian

A one-way trip to the dark side of the European dream. Where no one looks. Where no one cares. Where exile, loneliness and money prevail. This is the story of Arben, ”the Albanian“, who leaves the poorest country of Europe for the richest. He needs money to marry and obey the rules of his people. But the eldorado has its own rules, it is not welcoming to strangers and only the strongest survive. ”The Albanian“ is one of them, and he will pay the price. And learn that losing his innocence does not guarantee a fair return ticket.

Content:

Arben is Albanian. With his father, he goes back and forth between Greece and Albania to make some money. It’s enough as far as Arben’s family is concerned but it’s not enough to get married. And at 20, Arben is deeply in love with Etleva, a girl who lives on a farm close to his in the mountains. She’s pregnant with Arben’s child but her father wants 10.000 euros for her because he has debts. Arben promises he will get the money within six months and decides to go to Germany. But Germany does not wait for him and in Berlin, Arben has no visa, almost no name, he is ”the Albanian“. To survive, he starts working for a cleaning company, he sleeps outside and makes barely 20 euros per day. Everything changes when he meets Slatko. Slatko is ill, he has pneumonia and Arben saves his life by taking him to a doctor. This friendship opens doors for the young Albanian. He enters the human trafficking business, a business full of risk and money. Arben is good at it but he has chosen the wrong side. His Serbian boss is killed by a Polish rival. Under pressure, alone, with no time left, Arben realises that he can only count on himself. More risk, more money. One night, Arben murders the Pole and steals thousands of euros. Now he can return home to marry Etleva. He has the money, a brand new car, some tailor-made clothes. He’s a new man. But nobody waits for him in Albania. He is too late. Etleva was rejected by her father after giving birth alone. And when Arben finally finds her in Tirana, love has turned into hate. Etleva has stopped waiting. Arben wasn’t by her side when their child was born. He did not fulfill his promise.